The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning regarding the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, particularly expressing outrage over the continued failure of the grid and the classification of consumers into bands A, B, and C by Distribution Companies (DisCos). NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking during an annual conference in Abuja, criticized the past decade of privatization, stating that it has resulted only in darkness, exploitation, and significant economic distress for consumers.

Ajaero's statements highlight the grievances of the workforce, and he firmly declared that organized labour would oppose any further increases in electricity tariffs or policies that worsen the existing hardship unless there are tangible improvements in electricity supply. His criticism sheds light on the stagnation in electricity generation which has been stuck at around 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts, reflecting a failure to increase capacity since the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, which was intended to enhance efficiency and service delivery in the sector.

This situation points to a growing frustration among citizens and labor organizations regarding the perceived mismanagement and exploitation in the power sector. As the NLC threatens a nationwide strike, there are potential implications for public sentiment towards the government and the electricity sector’s management, which could amplify calls for accountability and reform, especially in light of ongoing economic hardships faced by Nigerians.